Jeter Returns As Yanks Open Three-Game Set In Toronto

It's only late-August, but the New York Yankees are still fighting for their playoff life. Escaping with a win in Tampa against the Rays on Sunday kept them from being swept, and also brought the Yankees to just 3 1/2 games behind the Oakland Athletics for the second wild card.

On a gutsy move by Joe Girardi to give Alfonso Soriano the green-light to steal third base with nobody out in the 11th inning on Sunday, Curtis Granderson brought him home on a sac-fly, followed by a six-pitch save from baseball's greatest closer, Mariano Rivera.

Now the Bombers head north of the border to being a three-game series against the last place Toronto Blue Jays, whom the Yankees are 12-1 against this season, including a four-game sweep at Yankee Stadium just last week.

Joining the Yankees in Toronto is the man they've been waiting for, seemingly all season, Derek Jeter! Jeter has been the DL for the past three weeks for the third time this season, dealing with a calf strain. He played three rehab game in Triple-A Scranton, going 3-for-9 at the plate, and he's ready to return to action.

Tonight's Lineup vs Toronto:

Gardner CF
Jeter SS
Cano 2B
Soriano LF
Granderson DH
Rodriguez 3B
Overbay 1B
Ichiro RF
Romine C
Hughes RHP

Pitching Preview:

What is there to say about Phil Hughes that you don't already know? He'll be taking the mound for the Yankees in the series opener Monday night, looking for his just his second win since July 2nd, making his second consecutive start against the Jays.

Hughes has pitched for the Yankees since starting at Yankee Stadium last Tuesday, allowing two runs on seven hits in six innings in a no-decision against Toronto.

"I feel like I'm making progress in the right direction," Hughes said. "It all starts with my fastball. I was able to get ahead a lot, throw a lot of strikes and force guys to swing the bats. It worked out alright."

Like Hughes, R.A. Dickey hasn't taken the mound for his club since these two teams met last week. Dickey tossed an eight-inning complete game, allowing four runs on six hits, taking the loss after giving up a two-run homerun to Soriano in the 8th.

Also, Dickey, like Hughes has been suffering through a rough 2013 campaign. The former National League Cy Young winning has only won starts in the past two months.

"It's frustrating, it's like a twilight zone -- different day, same script," Dickey said after his last start. "It's really kind of a fluky kind of feeling. I don't really know how to put it into verbiage. I'm at a loss when it comes to that. I just keep telling myself to leave it all on the field, and whatever happens, happens."

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